Devastating wildfires in Canada

[Allee]

Tuesday morning wildfires were responsible for an emergency evacuation that displaced thousands. The results are horrific. Fort McMurray residents are finding safety and shelter in Edmonton and surrounding cities. The epic response by emergency organizations, businesses and local residents is phenomenal.

Sincere gratitude to the firefighters, medical and military personnel involved. A special thank you also to each and every citizen and hero who is offering everything possible to help those in need.

Our fellow moderator, Terry57 and her husband Reg are volunteering at a local bird rescue owned by their friends, they will be taking in displaced pets as long as it takes.

Hope, prayers and healing thoughts to all those affected by this tragic event.

Fort McMurray Wildfire: 80,000 Evacuated Over Out-of-Control Blaze - NBC News

https://sec.theglobeandmail.com/new...om-fort-mcmurray/article29850485/?service=amp

Canada wildfire: 1,600 Fort McMurray buildings damaged

 

[plumsmum2005]

Yes heard about this on the news here and definitely second your sentiments Allee.

 

[Piasa]

Wow.. that sounds horrific.

I was around for the 2003 wildfires in southern CA - even being away from the worst areas, I remember how bizarre it was to see a red sun and ash falling like rain, people wearing face masks. I can't imagine how terrifying something like this would be.

Good on you Terry57 and hubs for helping with the best of creatures.

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

May God keep all safe ...terrible frightening things those wild fires. Well done to all the volunteers helping both humans and fur and feathered victims alike.

 

[SailBoat]

Prayers for all those facing the dangers and thanks for all those (including Terry57 and hubby) for what you are doing!

God's Blessings!

 

[Dinosrawr]

It's pretty terrifying. Many of my friends and their families are from the area, and several northern BC locations are also on fire as well near where I grew up. I can't believe we're facing such extreme wildfires so early into summer... I'm sending hopes and prayers to those communities and so thankful for the volunteers nearby who are willing to offer support in any shape or form.

 

[ToMang07]

It's been a very weird year, weather wise. We have been under "Red Flag" for a month until the last couple days, earliest I have EVER seen it, and only a couple times at all before it.

Thought and prayers to our northern neighbors.

 

[Anansi]

Sending my thoughts and prayers to those anywhere near those fires... including our Terry and her husband as the fires have crept close enough that they may need to evacuate from their home as well.

 

[Terry57]

Allee, thank you for posting this. My friend Janine and her husband are the heroes. All Reg and I did was help to set up some cages and drop off some donations.
We had almost arrived at their place in Sherwood Park when we found out that another wildfire had sprung up in Lac Ste Anne County, 27 KM from our house. Janine immediately said she would take all of our birds if the fire got close enough that we had to evacuate.
These are amazing people.
Luckily for us, they are saying that our fire danger should be over for tonight as they feel they have it contained.
Needless to say, we are ready, just in case, but am glad we can now return our attention to the people who have lost so much in Ft. McMurray.
I am including Meika's website, as they are still taking in birds and also have a donation station set up in their store collecting pet supplies for people who have evacuated with their animals. I'll add more links tomorrow for other rescues helping.
I want to be clear that Meika's is not asking for financial donations, they are simply one of the many places for supply donations for locals wanting to help. They are still accepting more birds as well.

I am so honoured to call Alberta home, these people that live here are absolutely amazing. People offering their homes as places to stay, all the people who have driven up there to bring much needed gas, water and food.
Please keep these people in your prayers, and also that the fire in Ft. McMurray is soon extinguished.
Meika's Birdhouse in Sherwood Park

Here is a great link for anyone affected by the fires who needs help with either finding their pet, or for somewhere to board them while they sort things out.
https://supportersofabrescues.com/2016/05/04/fort-mcmurray-fire-animal-aid/

 

[Scott]

Fire is a horrific tragedy to all living things. Thanks to folks like Terry and Reg, the community pulls together for the noble goal of safety and preservation.

I hope these fires are doused as soon as possible. There is nothing IMHO more terrifying in nature than a wildfire.

 

[Birdman666]

It's been a very weird year, weather wise. We have been under "Red Flag" for a month until the last couple days, earliest I have EVER seen it, and only a couple times at all before it.

Thought and prayers to our northern neighbors.

EL NINO YEAR... Changes the weather patterns all over the place. Shifts the jet stream. Changes storm activity. Change the temperature of the ocean a few degrees and all hell breaks loose... atmospheric conditions of the ocean, changes all the other atmospheric conditions.

More rain one place, means not enough rain elsewhere, which causes the grasses to dry up, and the fire season starts the minute the temperature warms up outside.

This has been one of the best West Coast surfing years anyone can remember... Everyone else is less of a fan.

 

[Birdman666]

Allee, thank you for posting this. My friend Janine and her husband are the heroes. All Reg and I did was help to set up some cages and drop off some donations.
We had almost arrived at their place in Sherwood Park when we found out that another wildfire had sprung up in Lac Ste Anne County, 27 KM from our house. Janine immediately said she would take all of our birds if the fire got close enough that we had to evacuate.
These are amazing people.
Luckily for us, they are saying that our fire danger should be over for tonight as they feel they have it contained.
Needless to say, we are ready, just in case, but am glad we can now return our attention to the people who have lost so much in Ft. McMurray.
I am including Meika's website, as they are still taking in birds and also have a donation station set up in their store collecting pet supplies for people who have evacuated with their animals. I'll add more links tomorrow for other rescues helping.
I want to be clear that Meika's is not asking for financial donations, they are simply one of the many places for supply donations for locals wanting to help. They are still accepting more birds as well.

I am so honoured to call Alberta home, these people that live here are absolutely amazing. People offering their homes as places to stay, all the people who have driven up there to bring much needed gas, water and food.
Please keep these people in your prayers, and also that the fire in Ft. McMurray is soon extinguished.
Meika's Birdhouse in Sherwood Park

Here is a great link for anyone affected by the fires who needs help with either finding their pet, or for somewhere to board them while they sort things out.
https://supportersofabrescues.com/2016/05/04/fort-mcmurray-fire-animal-aid/

Glad to hear they were able to save your house, and you made it out of there. And in the end, it's the people that make a community livable... OR NOT!

You can live in the fanciest neighborhood in the world, but if you (and your neighbors) don't give a crap about anything but yourself, and your stuff... it ceases to be a place I'd ever want to live!

 

[plumsmum2005]

Thinking of Terry and her husband at this catastrophic time and prayers to stay safe.

Ours news this morning states that people who have fled North could be cut off. Prayers for a change in the weather conditions there and soon.

 

[Christinenc2000]

Watched it on the news this morning. Heart Breaking. Stay safe

 

[Birdman666]

The photographs and videos I've seen of this are truly frightening and other worldly...

HOPE EVERYONE GETS OUT SAFELY, AND I PRAY THE WIND STAYS DOWN OR SHIFTS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION...

 

[Terry57]

Glad to hear they were able to save your house, and you made it out of there. And in the end, it's the people that make a community livable... OR NOT!

You can live in the fanciest neighborhood in the world, but if you (and your neighbors) don't give a crap about anything but yourself, and your stuff... it ceases to be a place I'd ever want to live!

Mark, thank you so much for your concern, but we never had to evacuate. We are located 30 minutes west of Spruce Grove in Lac Ste Anne Co., and there was a separate fire another 27 km away from us that they were able to extinguish. We are more than 400 KM away from the fire that is devastating Fort Mac.

The scale of that fire boggles the mind, and breaks your heart for all the people who are displaced and have possibly lost everything. The fire area is larger than NYC, and still growing.
The outpouring of help, prayers and love for these people from all over the world is staggering.
The heroism is truly inspiring...from the girl who rode her horse out through the flames, to the people who have rescued trapped animals from homes.
The firefighters who are working around the clock, only taking a little time out to sleep on lawns.
The thousands of people who have opened their homes to the evacuated.
The multitude of rescues helping with the displaced animals.
The firefighter who lost his daughter in a wreck while she was trying to evacuate, and when several of his fellow firefighters were faced with the choice of saving their own homes, or saving his..they saved his so that the family would have all their memories of her.

Sure puts things into perspective.
Please send your continued prayers to them.

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

Glad to hear they were able to save your house, and you made it out of there. And in the end, it's the people that make a community livable... OR NOT!

You can live in the fanciest neighborhood in the world, but if you (and your neighbors) don't give a crap about anything but yourself, and your stuff... it ceases to be a place I'd ever want to live!

Mark, thank you so much for your concern, but we never had to evacuate. We are located 30 minutes west of Spruce Grove in Lac Ste Anne Co., and there was a separate fire another 27 km away from us that they were able to extinguish. We are more than 400 KM away from the fire that is devastating Fort Mac.

The scale of that fire boggles the mind, and breaks your heart for all the people who are displaced and have possibly lost everything. The fire area is larger than NYC, and still growing.
The outpouring of help, prayers and love for these people from all over the world is staggering.
The heroism is truly inspiring...from the girl who rode her horse out through the flames, to the people who have rescued trapped animals from homes.
The firefighters who are working around the clock, only taking a little time out to sleep on lawns.
The thousands of people who have opened their homes to the evacuated.
The multitude of rescues helping with the displaced animals.
The firefighter who lost his daughter in a wreck while she was trying to evacuate, and when several of his fellow firefighters were faced with the choice of saving their own homes, or saving his..they saved his so that the family would have all their memories of her.

Sure puts things into perspective.
Please send your continued prayers to them.

I was in tears reading this...so precious what those firemen did...and indeed what so many are doing to help humans and crestures alike. I pray God keeps everyone safe and that there are no more deaths. Stay safe folks ...stay safe

 

[Terry57]

This video is powerful.
Emotional video of sacrifice and loss in Fort Mac quickly goes viral - 680 NEWS

 

[Tony21]

It's truly amazing how people come together when things like this happen! It's so sad to see the power house of Canada collapsing.

 

[Vapor]